Living by Faith: Trusting God's Future Grace

In our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, we have been focusing on Matthew 6:24-34, a passage that powerfully illustrates living by faith in future grace. This passage encourages us not to be anxious about our lives, emphasizing that God, who cares for the birds and clothes the lilies, will surely provide for us. Our task is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all our needs will be met. This teaching is foundational to understanding how faith in future grace transforms our lives, enabling us to rest in God's promises and live without anxiety.

Living by faith in future grace is not just a theological concept but a practical way of life. It involves trusting in God's ongoing provision and grace, which flows like a river into our present moment. This trust allows us to serve God not out of obligation or need but from a place of joy and reliance on His strength. When we serve in this way, God is glorified, and we experience true joy and satisfaction in Him.

Our passion for God's supremacy and our joy are not at odds. In fact, they are deeply intertwined. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This satisfaction in God liberates us from the false promises of happiness offered by the world. As we pursue our joy in God, we find that He is our ultimate good, and in seeking Him, we find true happiness.

This understanding of faith in future grace challenges us to live with a mindset that prioritizes God's glory and our joy in Him. It calls us to a life of radical love and service, free from the anxieties and sins that often entangle us. By living in the strength that God supplies, we magnify His glory and experience the fullness of life He intends for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Trust in God's Provision: Just as God cares for the birds and lilies, He will provide for us. Our focus should be on seeking His kingdom and righteousness, trusting that our needs will be met. This trust frees us from anxiety and allows us to live in peace. [02:28]
• 2. Living by Faith in Future Grace: Faith in future grace transforms our lives by enabling us to rest in God's promises. This faith is not just about the distant future but involves trusting in God's grace moment by moment. [16:02]
• 3. God's Supremacy and Our Joy: Our passion for God's supremacy and our joy are not conflicting desires. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, and this satisfaction liberates us from worldly pursuits. [23:22]
• 4. Service in God's Strength: We are called to serve not out of obligation but in the strength that God supplies. This approach magnifies God's glory and ensures that our service is a reflection of His grace and power. [14:03]
• 5. The Interplay of Glory and Joy: There is no conflict between God's pursuit of His glory and our pursuit of joy. In fact, our joy in God is a reflection of His glory, and as we pursue our joy in Him, He is honored. [23:09]
  ** [23:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
• [01:22] - Do Not Be Anxious
• [02:03] - God's Care for Creation
• [02:45] - Living by Faith in Future Grace
• [03:28] - Prayer for Faith
• [04:22] - Course Overview
• [05:38] - Why Faith in Future Grace Matters
• [06:04] - Passion for God's Supremacy
• [07:00] - God's Glory in All Things
• [08:43] - Biblical Texts on God's Glory
• [11:31] - Living by Faith and Future Grace
• [13:45] - Serving in God's Strength
• [19:24] - Passion for Joy
• [23:09] - Interplay of Glory and Joy

1. In Matthew 6:24-34, what examples from nature does Jesus use to illustrate God's provision, and how do these examples relate to the concept of living by faith in future grace? [01:22]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of serving God in the strength that He supplies, as mentioned in 1 Peter 4:11? [14:03]
3. How does Philippians 1:20-21 connect the idea of Christ being honored with the believer's experience of gain in life and death? [23:35]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's glory and our joy, and how is this reflected in the passage from Philippians? [23:09]

1. How does the passage in Matthew 6:24-34 challenge the common human tendency to worry about material needs, and what does it suggest about the nature of faith? [02:28]
2. In what ways does the sermon describe the interplay between God's glory and our joy, and how does this understanding affect a believer's daily life? [23:22]
3. How does the concept of serving in God's strength, as discussed in the sermon, redefine the way believers approach their service and ministry? [14:03]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of future grace in overcoming anxiety and sin, and how does this relate to the believer's trust in God's promises? [18:05]

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt anxious about your needs. How might trusting in God's provision, as described in Matthew 6:24-34, change your perspective in similar situations? [02:28]
2. Consider a time when you served out of obligation rather than joy. How can you shift your mindset to serve in the strength that God supplies, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:11? [14:03]
3. Identify an area in your life where you are pursuing happiness through worldly means. How can you redirect that pursuit towards finding joy in God, as discussed in the sermon? [23:22]
4. Think about a specific worry or fear you have about the future. How can the concept of future grace help you to rest in God's promises and reduce anxiety? [18:05]
5. How can you practically seek first the kingdom of God in your daily life, and what changes might this require in your priorities or actions? [02:28]
6. Reflect on a recent challenge or trial. How can viewing this situation as an opportunity for God to be glorified change your response to it? [23:35]
7. What steps can you take this week to cultivate a deeper satisfaction in God, thereby experiencing the joy that liberates you from worldly pursuits? [23:09]